Toronto Raptors: Pros and cons of signing Lonzo Ball in free agency

Ball’s passing may not be exhibited by his 5.7 assists per game, but he is still one of the best young distributors in the game. His ability to fire passes into the paint and make magic happen in fast-break scenarios remains as lethal as ever, and the Pelicans’ offense ran through him when he was on the floor.

Ball’s true value, however, may lie on the defensive end. Ball has the athletic ability and short-area quickness to prevent smaller guards from blowing by him and the length to deal with some bigger guard/forward combinations. With Toronto placing a great deal of individual responsibility on the guards for their defense, he is a natural fit as far as the scheme goes.

Lonzo Ball would help the Raptors on both sides.

Ball is not only a top-notch defender and creator for others, but he had his best offensive season in the pros despite playing for a defensive-minded head coach in Stan Van Gundy and while watching Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Eric Bledsoe taking away his shot attempts. Would a role in Toronto that might afford him more chances to create for himself suit him better?

When you take a look at his strengths, and couple that with the fact that he has made some huge strides on the offensive side of the ball, Ball has plenty of the traits that suggest he will be a high-level player for years to come in Toronto.